Authorities in Japan urged residents not to hoard supplies as anxiety over a potential megaquake led to a surge in demand for disaster kits and essentials on Saturday.

Following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in the south that injured 14 people, the weather agency issued its first advisory warning of an increased likelihood of a major quake.

In Tokyo, supermarkets began rationing items like bottled water, and disaster-related supplies topped online shopping lists.

While some residents stepped up their preparedness, others expressed resignation to the possibility of a megaquake, the AFP has reported.

The advisory specifically targets the Nankai Trough subduction zone, known for its history of massive earthquakes.

Written by B.C. Begley